McGuire
Air Force Base, the only Air Force base in New Jersey, is located 18
miles south of Trenton, the state capital, in Burlington County and is
the home of the 305th Air Mobility Wing. The base is named in
honor of the late Major B. McGuire Jr., of Ridgewood, N.J., a Medal of
Honor recipient who was the second leading air ace in World War II
before being killed in action in January 1945.
In 1937, the base began as a single dirt-strip
runway with a few maintenance and administrative buildings assigned to
the Army at Fort Dix, N.J. By 1942, the airfield was supporting World
War II efforts. Anti-submarine patrols originated there, and aircraft
were crated and flown from the field to European destinations. At one
time, parachutists were trained and a secret mission for the development
of guided missiles and ground control approach equipment was carried
out.
In 1945, it was the western terminus for the
return of the wounded from Europe and for the separatees, who were then
flown to separation centers throughout the United States. In 1949,
title and function of the base changed as it officially became McGuire
AFB. The 91st Reconnaissance Wing, Strategic Air Command arrived with
RB-29 and B-50 bombers. Later, Air Defense command and the 52nd Fighter
Interceptor Wing took over with F-94 and F-86 jet fighters.
In 1954, the 1611th Air Transport Wing and its
C-118 transports arrived, under the command of Military Air Transport
Service. In 1962, C-135 jet transports were assigned, and
C-130s by 1968. During the Vietnam War, McGuire transported troops and
supplies to south Vietnam and, in 1973, airlifted prisoners of war from
North Vietnam.
During the 1980s, Team McGuire participated in the
Beirut Marine barracks bombing airlift, Grenada rescue effort and the
invasion of Panama to oust dictator Manual Noreiga. Beginning in
August 1990, McGuire units supported Operation Desert Shield, the
defense of Saudi Arabia. Aircrews and deployed support members began
supporting Operation Desert Storm in January 1991. Combat ceased in
February, followed by the massive withdrawal of troops and equipment
beginning in March. In May 1991, McGuire aircrews began delivering food
and supplies to Turkey under Operation Provide Comfort, supplying Iraqi
refugees in southern Turkey and northern Iraq.
On June 1, 1992, McGuire became a major part of the
newly activated Air Mobility Command, made up of the former Military
Airlift Command and Strategic Airlift Command tanker units. From
December 1992 to May 1993, McGuire supported Operation Restore Hope,
setting up operations and controlling the flow of aircraft in the peace
keeping humanitarian effort in famine-stricken Somalia. In addition,
aircrews back at McGuire began airlifting the bulk of the 28,000
military troops and equipment to Somalia.
For the next several months, McGuire people
played a critical role in resupply operations, troop movements and
eventual redeployment of troops in May 1993. In July 1993, the
base was selected to become the East Coast Mobility Center. In
conjunction with this announcement, the base received McDonnell Douglas
KC-10 Extender tanker/cargo aircraft and close to 1,000 additional
people. In December 1993, AMC officials selected McGuire as the
site for the new Air Mobility Warfare Center, which opened in June 1994.
In September 1994, the 438th AW inactivated, and the 305th Air Mobility
Wing was formed. Today, the 305th AMW, along with the 514th AMW (AFRES),
the 108th Air Refueling Wing (NJANG), and other tenant units combine to
form Team McGuire, an installation with "One Team, One
Theme...Mobility."